Day 4 at the Qatar Goodwood Festival offers something to satisfy all tastes, with events over distances ranging from a fast and furious 5f to a stamina-sapping 2m4¼f. The Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes takes top-billing from a class perspective, backed up by the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for the three-year-olds. Elsewhere on the card, we have one of the biggest handicaps of the meeting in the shape of the Coral Golden Mile.
Seven more races means seven further punting opportunities. Here, we pick out our best value bets on the penultimate day.
2:25 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, 1m, Group 3
Our first selection comes in the first Group class contest of the day, as ten go to post in an event won by the brilliant Baeed in 2021.
By Dubawi and out of a Group 2 winning daughter of Frankel, the John & Thady Gosden-trained Lead Artist is bred to be the best of these and looked like a horse to follow when landing a York Novice event in May. However, his next effort saw him labour on at one pace for third in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. It's far too soon to write him off, but he must improve for the quicker ground here.
King’s Gamble makes some appeal following a fine fifth in the Britannia Stakes handicap. He did well to finish as close as he did that day with the race unfolding on the far side and placed at Group 2 level as a juvenile - albeit over 6f.
Sir Henry Cecil Stakes winner Al Musmak is the obvious one, having benefited from the drop back to a mile that day, but our vote goes to the horse who finished fourth in that event.
Two from two headed into that race, Socialite carried our cash at Newmarket, only to take off as if he was Frankel – opening up a yawning gap on the field before predictably fading close home. Deeply impressive on his previous outing at Doncaster, we are happy to draw a line through that run and give him a second chance to prove he is up to pattern class. On quicker ground this time – and hopefully ridden more sensibly – he can hit the frame.
Recommended Bet: Socialite each way at 8/1 with BetFred
3:35 King George Qatar Stakes, 5f, Group 2
The King Charles III Stakes is the key form race for the sprint feature. Six of these runners lined up in that Royal Ascot event, with the first, third, and fourth occupying the top three spots in the betting.
The admirable Big Evs finished a 1½l third behind Asfoora that day and will be 2lbs better off under these conditions. Believing also gets a 2lb pull in the weights and was only a short head further back in fourth at Ascot. However, the small weight change may not alter the result.
To our eyes, Asfoora looked a class apart at Ascot (as is so often the case with Australian sprinters). Drawn away from the main action on the far side, she must have been really motoring in the final furlong to reel them all in despite drifting markedly to her right. Starlust and Live In The Dream are the most interesting of her new opponents, but this race isn't any tougher on paper, and she is fairly priced to show her class in the closing stages.
Recommended Bet: Asfoora to win at 10/3 with bet365
4:10 Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes, 1m1f, Class 2
My Prospero heads the betting in this conditions event and is the one to beat - if anywhere near his best, following a 286 break. A Group 2 winner in his pomp, proven at the track, and versatile regarding the ground conditions, he’s a worthy favourite. However, taking a short price about a horse following such an extensive absence doesn’t appeal to our punting preferences. Second favourite Cicero’s Gift at least arrives in form, but up in trip and tackling quick turf for the first time, he looks short enough.
The next two in the market, Liberty Lane and Haunted Dream, are talented but more miss than hit, with their respective trainers, Karl Burke and Hamad Al Jehani, reaching for the first-time tongue tie. Liberty Lane is preferred of that duo, but the one to get our vote is the ex-Aidan O’Brien runner, Prague.
Now with Dylan Cunha, this four-year-old son of Galileo makes only his third career start here. Successful first time up at Sandown, he then went down by 3½l in a Listed event over 1m2f at that track. Only giving best inside the final furlong that day, this drop in trip should suit a horse more open to improvement than most.
Recommended Bet: Prague each way at 12/1 with BetVictor
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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